Clarence A. Shockley

Niles City Police Department

End of Watch: August 15, 1907

Patrolman Clarence Shockley, making his nightly rounds, was fatally wounded when bullets were fired upon him at the Carmi Smith Lumberyard at 10:20PM on August 14, 1907. Witnesses reported seeing two men enter the lumberyard and hearing four shots fired in quick succession soon afterwards. The men believed that the revolver shots were from a quarrel and didn't want to involve themselves any further. However, an hour passed before another passerby, Glenn Kugler, heard the groans of the wounded patrolman and sought help. Shockley was given medical attention but he passed away on August 15, 1907.

A bullet extracted from the officer's body showed it was fired from a Luger semi-automatic pistol, at the time thought to have been carried by hit men and military personnel. Chief George Francis of the Niles City Police Department believed that the shooting's motive was revenge. The killer was never found, even with a reward of $1,000 offered.

Patrolman Clarence A. Shockley was born on December 6, 1872 and was married to Emma Shockley since 1897. He was laid to rest in Silverbrook Cemetery, Niles, Michigan.